Wedding Goodness

Alisa Tongg Celebrant

Who Gets to Hold Ceremony?

What do people call a woman who holds ceremonial authority outside traditional religion? After being called a priestess, a shaman, a fairy god celebrant, and even “the blessing lady,” I started wondering what people are actually recognizing.

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Alisa Tongg Celebrant

Wedding Celebrant vs. Officiant: What’s the Difference?

What’s the difference between a wedding celebrant and an officiant? After more than 1,000 ceremonies, I’ve learned that the distinction goes well beyond who can legally marry you. Here’s what goes into creating a ceremony that feels personal, meaningful, and unmistakably yours.

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Alisa Tongg Celebrant

Equal Dignity Pop-Up Nuptials…Philadelphia Edition

Celebrant Alisa Tongg, Rev. Cynthia Cherish Malaran and Humanist Celebrant Cynthia Manchester will be officiating the civil wedding ceremonies for free to all couples on a first come, first joined in marriage basis, Sunday November 29th, 2020 12 Noon-4pm at Pomme Radnor, wedding and events venue on Philadelphia’s Main Line.

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Alisa Tongg Celebrant

7 Things You Can Do To Prepare For Marriage In The Time Of COVID-19

Lots of wedding plans that have been a year or even two years in the making, are having to shift and adapt this week as we, as a society in earnest, adjust our behavior to flattening the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are 7 things you can do to prepare for marriage in the time of a global pandemic.

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Alisa Tongg Celebrant

How to Officiate Your Friends’ Wedding

I’ve cracked the code on writing and performing meaningful and inclusive 20-minute ceremonies, and every aspiring Friend Officiant will receive my tried and true, universally appealing, Starter Ceremony, with simple, straightforward and most importantly, non-gaggy language, so that they can use the bulk of their creative efforts making that ceremony personal, charming and memorable for all the right reasons.

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Alisa Tongg Celebrant

Civil Celebrant Bill SB 833, Introduced In The Pennsylvania Senate

We need you now! We are almost there! Our Pennsylvania Civil Celebrant Bill SB 833 has been introduced by Sens. Farnese, Fontana, Blake and Brewster and the bill is similar to the NJ Civil Celebrant Law R.S.37:1-13 amending their marriage statutes to expand their list of who is authorized to solemnize marriages in the state. Along with judges, mayors, and clergy, they added a new category of people professionally trained to create and perform ceremonies–Civil Celebrants.

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